Sign



Sept' 16 1958 J. R. o'NElL 2,851,803

SIGN

Filed sept. 2e, 1955 United States Patent O SIGN James R. ONeil, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,538

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-106.52)

This invention relates to an animated sign or the like and particularlyrelates to a sign featuring the word Fly, which is suitable for use byair line companies and the like.

Air lines frequently seek to promote travel by employing the word Fly,sometimes by itself and sometimes followed by the name of the air line.Such signs are frequently flashed on and oli to secure attention. inaccordance with the present invention, an animated sign is providedwhich attracts attention by featuring the word Fly in two diierentforms, one of which suggests the actual take-oif and flying; this isaccomplished by alternately ashing two Ys in the word Fly, one of whichis conventional and the other of which suggests flight.

The sign of the present invention is particularly adapted to be made ofneon or similar tubing, but it can also be made from strings of lights,either in the open or concealed behind translucent portions of the sign.

In the drawing forming a part of this specication, Figures 1, 2 and 3illustrate different embodiments of the sign of the present invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. In accordance with this embodiment, the letters F 3 and l 5are left on at all times. The y, generally designated 7, is a lower casey wherein one of the arms 9 and the stem 11 form a single continuousline. The opposite arm 13 is of conventional conguration. In the secondform of the y, generally designated 7a, the y has been moved upwardly ona continuation of the line formed by parts 9 and 11, and the stem 11ahas been foreshortened. The arm 9a is made substantially the same lengthas 9 and has been spread out so that it is slightly below horizontal.The arm 13a has also been spread out, but to a less degree than 9a.Thus, the point A has been moved on the line of 11--9 to point A; butthe stem 11a is inclined slightly to the left. The Y is thus spread outas much as possible while still retaining the appearance of a Y.

In use, the sign would first be flashed with the y 7 showing, and thenthe y 7 would be turned off and, simultaneously, the y 7a turned on.Ordinarily, the y 7a would be left on for a much shorter period of timethan the y 7. For instance, the time for y 7 might be twice as long asthe time for Y 7a, and the repetition cycle might be on the order offour seconds. The relatively longer duration of the conventional wordFly deiinitely furthers the readability of the word when Patented Sept.16, 1958 ICC the Y is distorted. Thus, an attractive, moving sign isprovided and since the arms of the y resemble wings in flight, there isan actual suggestion of take-off and flying in the sign, which carriesout the theme of the sign. The larger the sign and the further thedistance from which it is to be viewed, the longer the cycle should be.However, the relative times to the two forms remain the same.

Although Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it will be obvious that the exact configuration of parts neednot be employed. One alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 2. In-accordance with this embodiment, a conventional F, 3, is used asbefore, as well as the l, 5. The l, 5, may be lower case l, asillustrated, or a capital L. In this embodiment, the Y 15 is aconventional capital Y, having a stem 17 and arms 19 and 21. Thealternate form of the Y, designated 15a, has a foreshortened stem 17a,and spread out arms 19a 1and 21a. The operation of the sign is exactlythe same as that described under Figure 1. It will be noted that inaccordance with the embodiment of Figure 2, one of the Ys is slightlysuperimposed on the other Y, but since they are not turned on at thesame time, this causes no ditiiculty. It will also be noted that point Ahas been moved to point A along the line formed by 19.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, a capital L 5 is employed anda capital Y 15. In this embodiment, the alternate Y 15a has been movedalong the right arm of the Y as before, but the point A is considerablyabove the top line of the letters.

In all of the embodiments, the stem or arms or both of the Ys may or maynot be shortened or lengthened, depending on the eiect desired.

It is believed apparent from the above description that I have provideda novel and attractive sign suitable for use by air line companies andthe like.

I claim:

An illuminated display device for use in advertising air travelcomprising: a panel on which is mounted a verbal injunction to flyincluding neon tubes shaped to form the letters F, L and Y, arepresentation of an airplane formed by neon tubes located above theletter Y and generally in the form of a letter Y with the arms spreadand the stem shortened, means to supply current to the letters F and Lcontinuously, and means to supply current to the letter Y and therepresent-ation of the airplane intermittently whereby to associate inthe mind of a viewer an air trip with the verbal injunction of a Hight.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,100,341 Apple et al June 16, 1914 1,230,348 Wadman June 19, 19171,346,493 Hammond et al July 13, 1920 1,777,550 Craig Oct. 7, 19301,942,877 Prouty Jan. 9, 1934 2,025,356 Neal Dec. 24, 1935 2,034,386Breckenridge Mar. 17, 1936 2,663,960 Cerracchio Dec. 29, 1953

